Raptors HQ Fantasy Toronto WNBA Roster 3.0
29/04/2024 22:26
With the idea of a WNBA team in Toronto becoming more plausible every day, we break down the players we'd love to represent the 6ix.
Back when I (Chelsea, Raptors HQ Editor-in-Chief) started writing on our beloved blog, one of my first story ideas was to create my Fantasy Toronto WNBA roster. Basically, if a WNBA expansion team came to Toronto that second, who would I want on the team. Back then, it was basically a list of my favourite W players.
As the idea of a WNBA team in Toronto became less of a far-off dream and more of an actual possibility, I came up with the second version of the Fantasy Roster in 2023. I also put Caitlin Clark on it before she went mainstream, which proves I know ball.
Now, it seems like the WNBA expanding not only seems possible, but inevitable. While MLSE has backed off of submitting a bit for a team, Larry Tanenbaum's Kilmer Sports group seems in. Rumour has it former Toronto Raptors VP Theresa Resch is leading the force. It's a tangible, legitimate thing.
The WNBA brought its first game to Canada almost one year ago, when the Chicago Sky and Minnesota Lynx played a preseason game at Scotiabank Arena. The arena sold out in minutes, and the game was a wild success. Now, the WNBA is set to present the second WNBA Canada Game this upcoming Saturday, May 4th, in Edmonton Alberta, between the Seattle Storm and LA Sparks.
The WNBA is now integrating into Canada in ways I could not have even imagined when I wrote that first piece in 2021. Viewership records in both the US and Canada have been shattered in the years since, and the media is seeing a WNBA boom unlike any they have ever seen. This season is set to be one of the most iconic in the league's nearly 30 year history.
So, it seems like a good time to update my Toronto Fantasy Roster.
The Rules of the Game
This is JUST FOR FUN. I am not a WNBA General Manager. While I have a basic understanding of how the WNBA salary cap works, I am not good at math. Why do you think I became a writer?
So, rule one is that salary cap and the numbers don't matter here. Neither do contracts and where these players currently play. It's a fantasy roster, I don't care if I would never be able to afford all these players at the same time, or if they are under a 7 year, no-trade-clause contract. In my delulu dreams, that doesn't matter.
Rule two is that I only have 12 roster spots to fill, per regular WNBA standards.
Rule three, just to prove the depth of talent in the WNBA, is that I am NO LONGER ALLOWED to recycle players from previous rosters. This is in part to challenge myself and also in part to prove that I could still make a winning roster.
Apologies to Kia Nurse and Natalie Achonwa, who now miss their chance to be three-time additions to my fantasy Toronto WNBA roster. We're here to support you during this surely difficult time.
Versions 1.0 and 2.0
Due to rule three, see above, here is a list of all players who are ineligible for my 2024 Fantasy Roster because they appeared on previous versions:
Version 1.0 (2021):
-Natasha Cloud, Kelsey Plum, Kia Nurse, Jewell Loyd, Michaela Onyenwere, Katie Lou Samuelson, Natalie Achonwa, Mercedes Russell
Version 2.0 (2023):
-Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Kia Nurse, Laeticia Amihere, Bridget Carleton, Natalie Achonwa, Aaliyah Edwards, Kahleah Copper, Marine Johannes, Aliyah Boston, Karlie Samuelson
As you may be able to tell in the past as well, I stuck to players who would possibly sign with or end up on a Toronto team a bit more "naturally." All that meant was avoiding people who seemed to be attached to their current franchises or that seemed a little too hard to get. I'm going to get slightly more delulu with some of my picks this year, cause why not?
So let's get into it. Here is the official Raptors HQ Fantasy Toronto WNBA Roster 3.0:
Oh Canada: The Hometown Heroes
These players come from the great north and would be a joy to see on a Canadian WNBA roster:
Syla Swords (G) — Long Island Lutheran High School/University of Michigan
Syla Swords is one of the most exciting up and coming prospects in Canadian women's basketball. Just finishing up her senior year at Long Island Lutheran, Swords is already an incredibly accomplished young player, with the potential to make an impact in her college years.
She comes from a basketball family, and her father is currently a coach for the Long Island Nets in the G-League, which explains why Syla goes to school in New York. She was the Gatorade Player of the Year for New York state, named a Mcdonald's All-American, a 5-star recruit, and committed to the Michigan Wolverines for college, where she will start in the fall.
Swords has also already represented the Canadian Senior Women's team at the international level, competing in both of Canada's Olympic Qualifying tournaments prior to the Paris Olympics. With her quick and crafty footwork, shooting ability, and already mature basketball IQ, Swords is someone to keep an eye on. Maybe by the time she goes pro, Toronto will have a WNBA team.
Toby Fournier (F) — Crestwood Preparatory College/Duke University
Toby Fournier is another up and coming high school student who will surely grow to make an impact on Canadian basketball. She went viral at 14 years old for being able to dunk the basketball, and her 6-foot-2 frame allows her to have a size advantage on her opponents.
She is not only good in the post, but has a great handle on the basketball and can shoot as well. As she heads to Duke in the fall to play under Kara Lawson, Fournier will surely work on her ability to play anywhere on the floor, and her strength in post as she begins to go up against bigger opponents in the NCAA.
Another name to keep an eye on as they develop in college, Fournier is someone that will be making an impact for Canada in the years to come.
They've Got Next: College Stars to Draft
These players are making a splash in the NCAA — will Toronto have a team by the time they are drafted?
Juju Watkins (G) - University of Southern California
Juju Watkins is a hooper. There's no question about it, she is incredibly gifted at basketball, and is already creating her legacy in college basketball after just one season. On top of that, she also incredibly easy to root for given her personality. Watkins has bolstered a USC women's basketball program that has not been a powerhouse in the NCAA since before the millennium.
She led the Trojans to their first Elite Eight game in decades in her freshman season, averaging 27.1 points per game through the year. Her size at the guard position makes her a threat anywhere on the floor, and the crafty way in which she is able to score points is just pure fun to watch.
On top of her raw talent that will only get better as she completes college, Juju is just freaking cool. Saying that makes me feel old, because I just want to be cool like her instead of the out of touch old person I am becoming. If Juju was drafted to a Toronto WNBA team, she'd instantly become beloved by the city, and I think she'd thrive here.
Georgia Amoore (G) — University of Kentucky
Georgia Amoore, the Australian who played her first four seasons at Virginia Tech before recently transferring to Kentucky for her fifth season, is tough. She's not only incredibly gifted from beyond the arc, she also has the ability to bolster her team to success at a moment's notice.
That tough guard mentality is something Toronto basketball fans love. Think of Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet — gritty guards who can shoot from distance and aren't afraid to put the team on their backs.
Amoore is undeniably ready for the pros, but decided to take her fifth year of college eligibility and follow her coach Kenny Brooks to Kentucky from Virginia Tech. It will be interesting to see how Amoore develops in a new school with different teammates, but still under the guidance of Brooks.
The Dawgs of the WNBA
There's no denying Toronto basketball fans love a dawg — here are players that would fit into the culture of the city seamlessly while putting on a show on the court:
Arike Ogunbowale (G) — Dallas Wings
Arike Ogunbowale, who made national news as a college student for making an incredible buzzer beater shot to win a national championship, has brought that energy to the WNBA. With her ability to shoot from anywhere, shake off her defender, and play the game with passion, she's someone I could see becoming a fan favourite in Toronto.
Dallas has had a tricky time developing their roster during Ogunbowale's tenure, struggling with injury and making a lot of moves. There has never been a consistent cast around Arike to help her out. It will be curious to see what they put together this year, and how patient Ogunbowale is willing to be while they do so.
Maybe by the time Toronto is in the mix, Ogunbowale's time in Dallas will be in the past...
Nika Muhl (G) — Seattle Storm
Nika Muhl may be an incoming rookie on the Storm, drafted 14th overall by Seattle in the 2024 draft, but she's already proven she's tough. In her four years at the University of Connecticut, Muhl broke the progam's record for single-season assists, and put on a show defensively.
She coming into the WNBA off an incredible performance defending Caitlin Clark in the NCAA Final Four game. Known as a tough defender, crafty playmaker, and a passionate teammate, Muhl's personality screams Toronto. She'a a bit of an underdog, coming into the league as more of a traditional non-scoring point guard, but she plays with extreme passion.
Consistency is Key: They Always Show Up
These players are just consistently GOOD. They'd always show up to give Toronto a boost.
Dorka Juhasz (F) — Minnesota Lynx
Dorka Juhasz came into the league as a rookie to a team who really needed her, and that's the key to longevity in a league as competitive as the WNBA. After completing three of her college years at Ohio State and two at UConn, the forward out of Hungary came into her rookie season already primed as pro and ready to go.
Cheryl Reeve used her immediately to deepen her front court and she thrived. Dorka's size mixed with her impeccable footwork and ability to shoot makes her an incredibly consistent player. She ended up in a system who needed her immediately, and her experience allowed her to take advantage of the opportunity.
As she continues to grow as a WNBA player, she'll only get tougher, more physical, and more intricately skilled. Plus, learning from someone like Napheesa Collier most definitely will not hurt.
Jackie Young (G) - Las Vegas Aces
Back to back champion Jackie Young knows what it takes to win. She's improved significantly in her years in the WNBA, going from unexperienced rookie to an integral part of a dynasty.
Young averaged 17.6 points per game in the 2023 WNBA season for the Aces as a starter. She has consistently improved in all stats since being drafted first overall in the 2019 draft, and even won the league's Most Improved Player Award in 2022.
As a point guard, she brings two-way skill and a quiet consistency to her team. Not always the most flashy or outspoken player on the court, Young's always gonna impact the game.
Chelsea's Delulu Hour: In Your Dreams Girl
Enjoy this section where Chelsea just wants an entire team of MVP players in her city!
A'ja Wilson (F) — Las Vegas Aces
Two-time MVP. Two-time Champion. Olympic Gold Medalist. World Champion. Finals MVP. All-Star. New York Times Best Selling Author. Need I say more?
A'ja Wilson is simply her. An icon on and off the court. A leader for her team, scoring in every way she can and dominating the court. She plays basketball in a way that makes it look so easy, but no one can stop her. Nearly impossible to defend, purely unstoppable.
Off the court, she's an inspiration to anyone. She works hard to advocate for young girls, is a fashion icon, and loves her team and the sport hard. She already has a statue at her alma mater, the University of South Carolina.
Having A'ja Wilson on your team is a no brainer.
Breanna Stewart (F) - New York Liberty
Another two-time MVP, champion, Olympic Gold Medalist and more — Stewart's resume is a sight to be seen. She won a National Championship every single year she stepped onto the court as a UConn Husky, and her impact has matched as a pro.
Stewart plays effortlessly no matter where she is on the court. In the post, from distance, in the midrange. She's only gotten better with age (somehow). She is a trailblazer and a leader.
Get Stewie going, and she's like a wildfire. Her shots look simple, her steadiness looks effortless, and her resume speaks for itself. She's a winner.
Chelsea Gray (G) - Las Vegas Aces
The Point Gawd! Chelsea Gray is one of the best point guards basketball has ever seen. A true point guard gets on the floor and sets the tone for her team on both sides of the floor — and Chelsea is just so good at that.
Need a bucket? Go to Chelsea Gray. Need a pass? Chelsea's got it. Need to lock down the other team's star? No worries for the point gawd. She's clutch, tough, and knows how to show up for the moment. Some of her earliest successes came in the most pressured of environments. Pressure makes diamonds — Chelsea Gray is the brightest of the bunch.
Also, the name bias gets her an automatic A+.
Skylar Diggins-Smith (G) - Seattle Storm
Skylar Diggins-Smith did not play in the 2023 WNBA season, and she was so sorely missed. She's so tough, so good, and so smooth. Her beautiful arcing three point shots, her speedy drives to the basket, and her impact on any team she's on are just a few reasons she's a star.
Another winner by nature, having SDS on your squad boosts your offence to new heights. She's tough to guard because of her speed, and her efficiency and accuracy means that when SDS makes a move, usually it's going into the hoop.
Now in a new system in Seattle, Smith will be paired with Jewell Loyd in the backcourt. She has the ability to thrive anywhere, so there is not doubt she will thrive in Seattle. Indulge me while I act delulu about her coming to Toronto.
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That's the Fantasy Toronto Roster 3.0! What do you think? Any other additions to the list?
